Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02559494 2012-03-05
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Magnet Cuff for Vascular Catheters and Bloodlines
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
100021 The present invention relates to hemodialysis catheters that
incorporate a relatively low strength magnet to exert a magnetic field against
the
blood flowing through the catheter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100031 Catheters are used to provide hemodialysis to patients whose
kidneys are no longer able to remove toxins from the blood. The catheter is
inserted into a large vein, such as the internal jugular vein, with a portion
of the
catheter extending externally of the patient. Insertion of the catheter into
the vein
requires percutaneous incisions in order to access the vein. The trauma
incurred
by these incisions may result in complications, such as infection, bleeding
and
slow healing.
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[0004] Additionally, blood flow through the catheter during hemodialysis
is critical to proper treatment and cleansing of the toxins from the blood.
Poor
blood flow through the catheter results in less efficient dialysis of the
blood.
[0005] Magnets have been used for centuries to treat various ailments as an
alternative to medicinal and drug therapy. Although magnets have not been
medically proven to heal the sick and injured, their reputation as a
therapeutic
device is widely known and accepted.
[0006] It is believed that magnets affect the iron and other ionic
compounds, such as compounds containing sodium, potassium, and magnesium, in
each blood cell, polarizing the blood cells, and attracting the blood cells to
the
induced magnetic field. The increased blood flow also increases oxygen flow to
the wound or damaged area served by the magnetic field, which accelerates the
healing process. See Szor, J.K. et al., Use of Magnetic Therapy to Heal an
Abdominal Wound, Ostomy Wound Manage, 44(5):24-9, 1998 May.
[0007] It is also believed that magnets help in the prevention and/or
reduction in thrombus formation. Virchow's Triad states that a thrombus
formation depends on the viscosity of the blood, injury to the vessel wall and
the
velocity of the blood flow. It is believed that the application of a magnetic
force
negates at least two legs of the triangle to increase blood flow. By utilizing
the
iron content in the red corpuscles, in connection with the repelling force of
the
south pole, the velocity of the blood is increased through the catheter and
into the
target vessel. Additionally, utilizing the theory proposed by Szor et al., the
magnet
will promote faster healing of vessel trauma, thereby effecting the clotting
cascade
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present during vessel injury. Suspension of this thrombus forming mechanism
reduces the
change of the thrombus, thereby increasing flow through the vessel.
[0008] It would be beneficial to provide a magnet attached to a catheter to
provide a
polarizing effect on blood in the catheter. It is believed that such a device
will promote
healing of the incision where the catheter is inserted into the patient, as
well as increase blood
flow through the catheter during dialysis.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a catheter for
use in
transmission of blood with respect to the vasculature of a patient,
comprising: a catheter body
having a proximal end and a distal end and defining at least one lumen
extending
therebetween, each at least one lumen having a distal tip opening and a
proximal opening for
transmission of blood thereinto and out thereof in at least one direction with
respect to the
vasculature of the patient, and a proximal portion fixedly connected to the
proximal end,
wherein a magnet is disposed around the catheter body distally of the proximal
portion and
surrounding at least a portion of the at least one lumen of the catheter body,
at a location
substantially spaced from the distal catheter end as to be external of the
vasculature after
catheter implantation, and wherein only one of a north pole and a south pole
of the magnet is
disposed adjacent to the catheter body.
[00101
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[00111 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute
part of
this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the
invention, and, together with
the general description given above and the detailed description given below,
serve to explain the
features of the invention. In the drawings:
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[0012] Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a catheter incorporating an
external magnet according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the catheter and magnet of
Fig. 1, taken along line 2-2.
[0014] Fig. 3 is a diagram of a catheter according to the first embodiment
of the present invention implanted into a patient.
[0015] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a catheter incorporating a magnet in the
catheter hub according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a catheter incorporating a magnet in the
catheter hub according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken
as a
limitation on the present invention. The words "proximal" and "distal" refer
to the
right side and the left side of the catheter with external magnet according to
the
present invention as shown in Fig. 1. The terminology includes the words above
specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. The
following describes a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it
should
be understood based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limited by
the
preferred embodiment described herein.
[0018] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a catheter 100 with an external
permanent magnet 120 is shown. The catheter 100 includes a body 102 having a
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distal end 104, which is intended to be inserted subcutaneously within a
patient's
blood vessel, and a proximal end 106, which is intended to remain exterior of
the
patient's body. The proximal end 106 is typically connected to a hub 108,
although those skilled in the art will recognize that a hub 108 is not
absolutely
necessary to enable the present invention. For example, for a single lumen
catheter, such as the TESIO catheter, the distal end of the catheter body is
connected directly to an extension tube fitting, omitting a hub entirely.
[0019] The catheter body 102 may house either a single lumen or a
plurality of lumens, as known by those skilled in the art. A single lumen
catheter is
typically used to either remove fluid from or administer fluid to a patient,
while a
catheter having a plurality of lumens is typically used to both remove fluid
and
administer fluid to the patient, often simultaneously, such as during
hemodialysis.
The catheter 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a dual lumen side-by-side catheter,
such
as the SPLIT CATH catheter. A first lumen 109a may be used to withdraw fluid
from a patient, while a second lumen 109b may be used to return fluid to the
patient. The hub 108 connects the first lumen 109a with a first extension tube
112a
and the second lumen 109b with a second extension tube 112b.
[0020] A catheter ingrowth cuff 110 is disposed about the exterior of the
body 102, distal from the hub 108. Preferably, the cuff 110 is approximately 2
inches (5 centimeters) from the hub 108, although those skilled in the art
will
recognize that the cuff 110 may be disposed more or less than 2 inches from
the
hub 108.
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[0021] The magnet 120 is slidably disposed about the body 102 between
the cuff 110 and the hub 108. Preferably, the magnet 120 is constructed from a
permanently magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, samarium,
neodymium, dysprosium, gadolinium, or some other suitable magnetic material,
and has a magnetic strength of approximately between 700 and 1,000 Gauss. As
shown in Fig. 2, the magnet 120 is preferably encased in a casing 122
constructed
from a suitable material, such as a polymer or a rubber, to provide sterility.
[0022] For a catheter without a hub, such as the TESIO catheter as
discussed above, the magnet 120 may be disposed between the cuff 110 and an
extension tube fitting (not shown). Further, for a catheter without the cuff
110, the
magnet 120 is disposed about the catheter body 102 proximate to the hub 108,
between the hub 108 and the entrance site of the catheter 100 into the
patient.
[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, the south pole of the magnet 120 is disposed
proximate to the body 102, while the north pole of the magnet 120 is disposed
distal from the body 102. However, those skilled in the art will recognize
that the
polarity of the magnet 120 with respect to the body 102 may be reversed
without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0024] The magnet 120 may be annularly shaped or the magnet 120 may be
comprised of a plurality of magnets dispersed about an annularly shaped casing
122. However, it is important to the inventive aspect of the present invention
that
the same polarity (north or south) is disposed proximate to the body 102 of
the
catheter 100.
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[0025] The catheter 100 is inserted into the patient according to accepted
practices, preferably subcutaneously tunneled under the patient's skin, with
the
cuff 110 disposed within a subcutaneous tunnel 130, as shown in Fig. 3. The
magnet 120 is exterior of the tunnel 130 proximate to the entrance of the
catheter
body 102 into the tunnel 130. It is believed by the inventors that the
proximity of
the magnet 120 to the tunnel entrance will accelerate healing of the incision
that
forms the tunnel entrance.
[0026] While Fig. 3 shows the catheter 100 having been subcutaneously
tunneled, those skilled in the art will recognize that the tunnel may be
omitted, with
the magnet 120 being located proximate to the incision where the catheter body
102 enters the patient, thereby accelerating healing of the entrance incision.
[0027] For use of the catheter 100 in hemodialysis, where blood is being
withdrawn and then returned to the patient, the inventors believe that the
constant
polarity of the magnet 120 proximate to the body 102 may repel the iron ions
in the
blood and increase the velocity of the blood as the blood travels through the
catheter 100, reducing the likelihood of thrombus formation in the catheter
100.
[0028] It is also believed that, with the magnet 120 disposed proximate to
the insertion site of the catheter 100 into the patient, due to the magnetic
force of
the magnet 120, blood cells in the patient's bloodstream proximate to the
incision
site are drawn toward the magnet 120 due to the magnetic attraction of the
iron in
the blood toward the magnet 120. It is believed that such magnetic attraction
also
increases blood flow and oxygenation to the incision site, accelerating the
healing
process.
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[0029] An alternative embodiment of a catheter 200 according to the
present invention is shown in Fig. 4. The catheter 200 includes a body 202
having
a distal end 204, which is intended to be inserted subcutaneously within a
patient's
blood vessel, and a proximal end 206, which is intended to remain exterior of
the
patient's body. The proximal end 206 includes a hub 208, which connects the
distal end 204 and the proximal end 206.
[0030] The catheter 200 shown in Fig. 4 includes first and second lumens
209a, 209b, respectively, that extend distally from the hub 208. The first
lumen
209a is used to draw blood from the patient, while the second lumen 209b is
used
to return blood to the patient after the blood has been treated. Although only
first
and second lumens 209a, 209b are shown, those skilled in the art will
recognize
that more or less than two lumens may be used. The hub 208 is used to fluidly
connect the first lumen 209a with a first extension tube 212a and to connect
the
second lumen 209b with a second extension tube 212a. A first fluid passage
214a
within the hub 208 fluidly connects the first lumen 209a with the first
extension
tube 212a, while a second passage 214b within the hub 208 fluidly connects the
second lumen 209b with the second extension tube 212b.
[0031] A magnet 220 is disposed within the hub 208 so as not to be visible
to the patient, and so that the magnet 220 is not seen as an extraneous device
on the
catheter 200. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the magnet 220 includes a first
magnet
220a that surrounds at least a portion of the first passage 214a and a second
magnet
220b that surrounds at least a portion of the second passage 214b.
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100321 Preferably, each of the magnets 220a, 220b are annularly shaped
and are each constructed from a permanently magnetic material, such as iron,
cobalt, nickel, samarium, neodymium, dysprosium, gadolinium, or some other
suitable magnetic material. Also preferably, each magnet 220a, 220b has a
magnetic strength of approximately between 700 and 1,000 Gauss. While each
magnet 220a, 220b may be a singular annularly shaped magnet, the magnets 220a,
220b may be comprised of a plurality of magnets dispersed along each
respective
passage 214a, 214b. However, it is important to the inventive aspect of the
present
invention that the same polarity (north or south) is disposed proximate to its
respective passage 214a, 214b.
[00331 Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, an alternate embodiment of a
catheter 300 according to the present invention is shown. Instead of utilizing
two
magnets in the hub as is shown in the catheter 200 described above, the
catheter
300 includes a hub 308 with a single annular magnet 320 surrounding proximal
ends of catheter lumens 309a, 309b as the lumens 309a, 309b enter the hub 308.
The hub 308 serves as a junction for the lumens 309a, 309b to fluidly connect
to
extension tubes 312a, 312b via passages 314a, 314b formed in the hub 308.
While
two lumens 309a, 309b are shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that
more
than two lumens 309a, 309b may be used, and that the magnet 320 will surround
all of the lumens within the hub 308.
[00341 Preferably, the magnet 320 is annularly shaped and is constructed
from a permanently magnetic material, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, samarium,
neodymium, dysprosium, gadolinium, or some other suitable magnetic material.
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Also preferably, the magnet 320 has a magnetic strength of approximately
between
700 and 1,000 Gauss. While the magnet 320 may be a singular annularly shaped
magnet, the magnet 320 may be comprised of a plurality of magnets dispersed
along the distal end of the lumens 309a, 309b. However, it is important to the
inventive aspect of the present invention that the same polarity (north or
south) is
disposed proximate to the lumens 309a, 309b.
[0035] The catheters 200, 300 are inserted into the patient in the same
manner as the catheter 100 as described above.
[0036] While the present invention is described as being used with
catheters, those skilled in the art will recognize that the magnets disclosed
herein
may also be used around other bloodlines in order to improve blood flow
through
the lines. Such bloodlines may include, but are not limited to, hemodialysis
machine bloodlines or any other suitable bloodlines.
[0037] It will be appreciated by thbse skilled in the art that changes could
be made to the embodiments described above. It is understood, therefore, that
the
present invention is defined by the appended claims.
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